Fahmi Fadzil had accused Berita Harian of slandering the government and the central bank.
PETALING JAYA: The National Union of Journalists has criticised communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil for describing a news report as slander.
The union questioned the government’s promise of press freedom when Fahmi could label an article on financial projection as slander.
Fahmi had accused Berita Harian of slandering the government and the central bank in its Facebook post which had the headline “OPR expected to be increased again by July”, referring to Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) overnight policy rate (the inter-bank lending rate).
Fahmi said: “The article clearly states it is the view of analysts and not a decision by BNM or the government. Berita Harian Online must correct this and explain.”
NUJ general secretary Teh Athira Yusof said Fahmi should know that it was common for news reports to be based on the opinion and projections of industry experts.
Fahmi’s claim had undermined Berita Harian’s report and calling it a lie “could create a negative perception among the public about the media,” she said.
Teh said NUJ hoped that the minister would be more understanding about news reports. - FMT
A Pejuang official said time would tell and the people would decide on the party’s future.
PETALING JAYA: Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid says it is not over for his party yet despite the recent decision by Perikatan Nasional rejecting the party’s application to join the coalition.
Rafique said that although the party does not yet have widespread public support, it was Pejuang which took the initiative to bring all Malay parties under a single “credible Malay ticket” before the recent general election.
“However, the response from other ‘giant’ Malay parties was cold” as these parties were worried about seat allocation if they were grouped together.
The other parties should not claim they wanted to protect the rights of the Malays “because Malay rights as well as those of others can only be guaranteed by a large, strong, and stable coalition,” he said.
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Last week, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said PN had rejected Pejuang’s application as it did not want to complicate seat allocations for the six state elections.
He also urged Pejuang to dissolve and for its members to join PAS or Bersatu to continue their struggle for the Malays and Islam.
Rafique said: “Let time decide, let the people decide and let almost all the many elite parties be hit by (court) cases”, adding that “Pejuang is still clean”.
Pejuang applied to join PN as a component party earlier this month. Party president Mukhriz Mahathir said electoral pacts with other parties or coalitions were insufficient. - FMT
Sabah immigration department director Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the suspects were rounded up during raids conducted over two days under Ops Serkap. (Facebook pic)
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah immigration department has busted a syndicate specialising in forging identification documents with the arrest of six people.
Sabah immigration department director Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the suspects were rounded up during raids conducted over two days under Ops Serkap, which ended yesterday.
She said the identities of the six, including three women, aged 24 to 59, were still being determined.
The arrests were made following a raid by six Sabah immigration intelligence unit members on an unnumbered house at Kampung Sembulan Lama.
“During the raid, we found three men and two women who were in possession of suspected fake entry permits.
“We confiscated 28 entry permit documents, along with forgeries of documents relating to the payment of entry permits and IMM13 applications.”
She said interrogation led to another raid at the Riverside Sembulan area at 1pm yesterday and the arrest of another woman.
The raiding team found other suspected fake documents and seized RM744 in cash on her.
The woman suspect then provided information about a house around Kuala Menggatal, which was also raided. More fake immigration documents were seized there.
Sh Sitti Saleha said the department believed the syndicate had been operating since April 2022 and had made a profit of between RM60,000 and RM100,000.
“We are now tracking another individual related to the case, who is believed to be in West Malaysia.
“We are also checking if this case is related to previous cases in Sabah,” she said. - FMT
SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin and his ex-wife, Emilia Hanafi, said their full focus now would be on the welfare of their children.
KUALA LUMPUR: The magistrates’ court today acquitted SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin of the charge of injuring his ex-wife, Emilia Hanafi, eight years ago, after the woman withdrew the case against the businessman.
Magistrate Nadia Othman made the decision after allowing the request by Faisal’s lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader as Emilia, the complainant and also the final prosecution witness, agreed to withdraw the case.
“I believe the parties have reconciled and reached a settlement.
“Therefore, the accused is discharged and acquitted, and the bail money is returned,” said Nadia.
Earlier, Emilia’s watching brief lawyer Nizam Bashir informed the court that the parties involved had been in discussions since yesterday and had reached a settlement over the matter.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Aishah Ahmad Zakiuddin then called Emilia to the witness stand to confirm the matter.
“Due to there being a settlement, I would like to withdraw this case.
“I also understand the consequences that if I withdraw the case, the charges cannot be continued against the accused,” said Emilia when questioned by Nur Aishah at today’s proceedings, originally scheduled for the continuation of the trial.
Nur Aishah then requested for Faisal to be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, but Akberdin requested that his client be discharged and acquitted following the withdrawal of the case by the woman.
When met by reporters outside the court, Nizam said the case was successfully resolved after both parties agreed to the terms of the proposed settlement.
“The case was successfully resolved and the basis of the resolution was the blessed month of Ramadan and the welfare of their three children.
“There are certain terms in the agreement but there is no need to disclose them. We celebrate the agreement that has been reached,” he said.
Meanwhile, Akberdin said both parties had agreed not to disclose the terms of the settlement to the public.
He said the settlement also involved other cases in the shariah court and the parties would inform the court not to continue those cases.
Meanwhile, Faisal and Emilia, when met by reporters, expressed their gratitude over the settlement and that their full focus and attention would now be on the children.
Faisal was charged with injuring Emilia at a house in Desa Sri Hartamas here between 12.30pm and 4.30pm on Nov 22, 2015.
The charged was under Section 323 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 326A of the same code. It carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine of RM2,000, or both, on conviction. - FMT
Disruptions of LRT and MRT services recently caused congestion on platforms.
PETALING JAYA: Transit line operator Rapid Rail has explained what steps have been taken to overcome the recent disruptions to train services.
It said the failure of certain sub-components had led to delays and platform congestion on the Kelana Jaya line and the Kajang and Putrajaya MRT lines.
The company said it had increased the number of technical personnel at identified locations and provided critical spare parts at stations so that repair works can be completed faster to reduce the disruption period, Bernama reported.
Rapid Rail apologised to the public for the inconvenience caused. - FMT
Malaysians expected a bombshell verdict on Najib Abdul Razak's appeal decision in the Federal Court today - and in the end, there were huge sighs of relief.
The air had been thick with allegations that the convicted felon Najib had been making secret deals with the unity government. It did not make sense.
After years of economic gloom and more suffering caused by the coronavirus pandemic, why would the government risk further uncertainty and instability? We have a cost of living crisis to manage, but Najib, ever the narcissist, was desperate to be in the spotlight again and have his day in court.
Today, at his SRC International review hearing, the spotlight was firmly on the current Federal Court's panel of judges. Not on Najib.
It didn't matter if Najib was there, or in Kajang Prison, or a million miles away.
The ones being judged by the rakyat were the Federal Court’s panel of judges, and the Malaysian judiciary.
In the end, Najib failed in his bid to review an earlier apex court verdict to uphold his guilty verdict.
A message to corrupt politicians
Today's decision of the judges has given Malaysians renewed faith, for now, in the judiciary. It also sends a message to corrupt politicians that their time will come. There are many in positions of power at the moment.
One doubts if they could ever hold their heads up high if Najib had been granted a full acquittal or a retrial. The judiciary's reputation would be decimated and it will be worse than in 1988 when Dr Mahathir Mohamad emasculated their powers and removed their independence.
Some people claim that Najib is good for business. Really? If he had received a full acquittal or a retrial, would foreign investors come knocking on Putrajaya's door? Hardly!
When he was first sentenced, we witnessed wild scenes when thousands of Najib's screaming supporters descended outside the court, and defied the scares about contracting coronavirus. Today, only around 100 supporters were present. Is he no longer their idol? Has Najib lost his 'Boss-Ku' appeal?
If a decision had been to allow a retrial, there would have been complete pandemonium and Malaysia would have been set on a path of no return.
Najib or his lawyers, or both, were foolish to have another bid for freedom. The nation is weary of him. His original SRC trial had been dogged by delays, late starts, illness and various attempts by both Najib and his lawyer to scuttle any plan for a smooth and speedy conclusion.
The judges may have exercised extreme restraint, but the public is not so forgiving. Najib is not someone who engenders feelings of sympathy.
What he did to the nation is unforgivable. He stole taxpayers' money whilst he was the prime minister. That is what makes it unpalatable and unacceptable.
Put in a position of trust to administer the country, Najib found it child's play to abuse his powers and his position, to enrich himself, his family and those closest to him. Anyone who opposed him was swiftly dealt with, or perhaps, handsomely rewarded to buy their silence.
Did he express any remorse for forcing Malaysia to its knees? No.
Did he care about the lives that were lost or the dashed hopes and futures of various individuals who tried to alert the authorities about 1MDB? No. He couldn't be bothered.
Adam Adli was prevented from completing his final year at the university because he had 'disrespected' Najib. Was he made an example, so that others would fear speaking out?
Don't forget the snivelling cabinet under Najib, who lied about the RM2.6 billion donation from an Arab prince. Today, some of them are members of the unity government. Shameful hypocrites!
Many Malaysians believe that Najib's sentence is too short. We wonder why corrupt presidents and prime ministers of other nations are sentenced soon after they leave office, whereas we appear to drag our feet just to get one conviction going. How can this be remedied?
In today's review, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli, the sole dissenting judge, said that Najib's adjournment was not to scuttle the appeal but had been done in good faith so his lawyers could prepare for the appeal.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli
The rakyat think differently. Following Najib's SRC trial was like watching Dallas. Without fail, each episode ended with more cliffhangers.
The United States sentenced Roger Ng to 10 years in jail, for his role in 1MDB. Meanwhile, a court in Kuwait sentenced Sheikh Sabah Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the son of a former Kuwaiti prime minister, and two others. Jho Low was sentenced in absentia. It would have looked odd if Najib had won his review.
Judge Abdul Rahman also said that Najib should not be made to pay the price for the lawyer's mistake. Would Abdul Rahman care to say, what about the rakyat having to bear the cost for Najib's crime?
Najib's punishment is a short 12-year jail term. However, generations of Malaysians will suffer from Najib's selfish greed.
Najib's review is a rich man's privilege. Only the super-rich can make his case a long drawn-out one. Why should we waste more time, money and valuable manpower and resources on him? - Mkini
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).Blog,Twitter.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
